New “Vintage” YSL at Barneys New York

Fashion headlines are buzzing about the New Vintage YSL collection designed by Stefano Pilati exclusively for Barneys New York. This slightly more affordable line utilized unused YSL fabric from the past 10 years to create a capsule collection of 60 pieces inspired by the brand’s classic silhouettes. While this line is an environmentally friendly way to utilize unused resources, fabric from the year 2000 is hardly vintage. And although New Vintage is obviously a play on the oxymoron that it is, to be truly “new vintage” Pilati would need to have used fabric that was at least 25 years old, and perhaps some patterns of the same age. At a time when sustainable fashion, eco fabrics, and real vintage clothes are getting a lot of hype for their kindness toward mother earth, “New Vintage” seems disconnected when trying to evoke the original YSL with decade old fabrics. But while the title may push “vintage” toward the misuse of fashion words like “couture”, the clothing is still quite cool and close to sold out.

Above: 1970s vintage YSL.

For real vintage YSL, you need look no further than Stylesight’s own vintage Archive: